Undergraduate Academic Programs

To graduate, you must apply for graduation through the Student Administration System no later than the fourth week of the semester you hope to graduate (or the last four weeks of the spring semester if you plan to graduate in August). The sooner you apply, the sooner your application will be processed and any issues can be resolved.

You must also submit a plan of study for all majors/minors you are completing at the time of graduation. Plans of study are submitted through the Student Administration System after students apply to graduate. After students submit final plans of study for all majors/minors, the plans are reviewed by the degree auditors in the Registrar’s Office. Learn more about steps for successful graduation on the Registrar's website.

Learn more about commencement (graduation ceremony).

CAHNR Graduation highlights

Many departments and programs in the College offer experiential learning in the form of internships (also called “field study” and “practicum”). Some of the courses have been offered for twenty years. The specific nature and educational objectives of those courses vary: some are intended as pre-professional learning experiences; others offer opportunities for applied research; still others provide practical application of principles learned in the classroom. The College recognizes the important role that internships may play in a research university like the University of Connecticut. At the same time, the College recognizes the critical importance of defining and enforcing strict standards for internships so that student interns in fact receive the intended benefits.

Credit

No Retroactive Credit: To receive credit for an internship, a student must enroll in an internship course prior to undertaking the work. No credit may be given, retroactively, for internship work undertaken without being properly enrolled in advance.

Credit Restrictions:

• Each credit for internship work must entail a minimum of forty (40) hours of work per semester or term.
• The required number of hours of work must be stated clearly in the contract for the internship.

Evaluation of Internship Performance

Internship/Learning Contract. All internship courses must include as an integral part a learning contract, or work plan that is signed by both the instructor of record and the internship supervisor, ex. Sample Internship/Learning Contract.
Instructor of Record. The instructor of record for all internship work must be a University of Connecticut faculty member or a person approved, in writing, to serve in that capacity by the Head or Director of the Department or Program offering the internship. The instructor of record is responsible for assigning the grades.
Internship Supervisor. Each student must have an assigned internship supervisor at the work site. The internship supervisor must agree (by signing the contract) to supervise the work and to participate in the evaluation of the student’s performance at the end of the internship. Interns may not be supervised by undergraduate students.

Grading

Internship grading is determined at the departmental level in CAHNR.

Other Considerations

GPA: The CAHNR academic department may consider GPA requirements and the instructor's consent may be required if a student is on academic probation.

Limitations: If a student plans to intern for a second time with the same host and wishes to receive academic credit for the experience, their Internship/Learning Contract must document the ways in which the second internship entails responsibilities or assignments that differ significantly from those of the first internship.

Payment: The College does not forbid monetary payment for internship work, provided that such payment is incidental to the experiential learning to be gained from the work.

Lobbying: Some internships allow students to participate in organizations and advocacy groups that perform or disseminate research, or engage in legislative lobbying, in order to affect the content of legislation or budgetary decisions. The Committee recommends that internship supervisors not assign student interns to activities on behalf of legislation or budget decisions directly affecting the University of Connecticut. It is especially in the best interests of the University that none of its interns be engaged in face-to-face legislative lobbying for the University.

Whenever there is a gap in a student’s attendance, regardless of the reason, the student must apply for readmission through the Dean of Students Office. Readmission is not guaranteed, and criteria used in determining readmission include, but are not limited to, academic progress, university discipline history, and criminal history.

Students who have been scholastically dismissed may apply for readmission once they have met the requirements outlined below.

Steps to Readmission after Dismissal

Students who have been dismissed from the University may, during a later semester, request an evaluation for readmission. Readmission after dismissal is neither automatic nor guaranteed, and will be considered favorably only when a student’s readmission application indicates a strong probability for academic success. Students seeking readmission to the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources are required to submit a readmission application through the Dean of Students Office.

In addition to completing this application, students must meet the following requirements before their application will be reviewed by CAHNR:

I. Time Away

• First Dismissal: Students who are dismissed from the University for the first time must wait at least two consecutive semesters (fall and spring) before applying for readmission. Winter and Summer intersessions are not included in the calculation of time away.
• Second Dismissal: Students who are dismissed from the University a second time must wait at least four years (eight consecutive semesters, fall and spring) before applying for readmission.
• Third Dismissal: No student will be readmitted to the University after a third dismissal.

II. Successful Completion of Additional Academic Work

Students must successfully complete at least twelve college-level credits after being dismissed. In order for a course to count toward this requirement, it must be completed after the semester in which the student was dismissed, and a final grade must be posted at the time of the student’s application submission.

• Students must receive grades of “B” or higher in courses taken after being dismissed.
• Students must complete courses  that will show progress toward their desired degree plan or major.

Typically, students complete additional academic work in one of two ways:

• Complete non-degree courses at the University of Connecticut – With approval from an advisor in CAHNR’s Academic Programs , students who have been dismissed have the option to take up to eight credits per semester of non-degree coursework at the University of Connecticut. If approved, students may register through Non-Degree Services in the Office of the Registrar.
• Transfer courses from other academic institutions – Students may satisfy some or all of their readmission requirements by completing courses at other institutions. All transfer credits must adhere to the standard Undergraduate Admission Transfer Credit Guidelines. Courses and grades for transfer courses will be considered for readmission decisions, but grades will not be calculated into the UConn grade point average. Transfer courses that are required for the major are subject to residency requirements in the 36-credit group and will need to be approved by the UConn faculty advisor. Students have the option to complete courses at:
  • In-State Institutions – For students interested in completing coursework in Connecticut, but not at UConn, the Undergraduate Admissions Office has an informative website with transfer course equivalencies for Connecticut universities, colleges and community colleges. These lists are extensive, including many general education courses, prerequisite courses, and other courses of interest, but may not include all courses at all institutions.
  • Out-of-State Institutions – Course equivalencies for out-of-state institutions are not readily available. Students are encouraged to compare course descriptions to UConn courses and discuss content with CAHNR advisors for guidance.

Readmitted Students

In their first regular semester after readmission, dismissed students will be on scholastic probation. Additionally, readmitted students will follow the catalog requirements for the semester of their readmission.

Academic Notice is an identification of students whose academic performance is below University standards. View the University Senate Bylaws on Academic Standing

The student and the student’s advisor are informed that a marked academic improvement in future semesters is necessary to obtain the minimum academic standards.

Please see the UConn Undergraduate Catalog for more information regarding academic policies and procedures.

CAHNR students who are placed on academic notice will have the following conditions attached to their enrollment:

• There is a 14 credit limit on their account and they must adjust their credits by the 10th day of classes or their schedule will be adjusted for them.
• The student is required to fill out an Academic Success Plan.
• The student is required to meet with an advisor (major or advisor in the Office of Academic Programs) during the semester. Students must complete the Academic Success Plan PRIOR to meeting with an advisor. After the 10th day of classes an enrollment hold will be placed on their account, which will only be lifted once they’ve met with an advisor.